Clothing item

ABSTRACT

Legwear (100) includes a heat conducting and heat transferring region (2) containing a metallic yarn, and the heat conducting and heat transferring region (2) is provided so as to conduct heat from a high temperature area of a body (50) to a low temperature area thereof.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a clothing item such as legwear.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, there have been proposed various techniques foradjusting the temperature of a clothing item worn on a body. Forexample, Patent Literature 1 describes heating socks that heat aconductive region when a current is applied from a power source. Theheating socks can warm the region upon the application of a current.Patent Literature 2 describes socks made from a fiber material in whichpolyurethane elastic fibers containing platinum and also containing atleast alumina and silica as metal oxide are blended. Since infrared raysare emitted from the socks when the temperature of the metal oxidereaches about 30° C., it is possible to enhance the heat-retainingeffect of the socks.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[Patent Literature 1]

Published Japanese Translation of PCT International Application,Tokuhyo, No. 2007-529238 (Publication date: Oct. 25, 2007)

[Patent Literature 2]

Japanese Patent Application Publication, Tokukaihei, No. 6-41801(Publication date: Feb. 15, 1994)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Unfortunately, the techniques described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2,although they can warm the socks or retain heat of the socks, cannotrelease heat from a high temperature part of the socks when thetemperature of the socks themselves becomes high. Therefore, there isthe problem of a failure to decrease the temperature of a part of thesocks which part has been increased in temperature, for example, when aperson who is wearing the socks does an exercise, etc.

An aspect of the present invention has been attained in view of theabove problem, and it is an object of the present invention to achieveheat transfer in a clothing item whereby wearing comfort of the clothingitem is improved.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the above problem, a clothing item in accordance withan aspect of the present invention includes a heat conducting and heattransferring region containing a metallic yarn, the heat conducting andheat transferring region being provided so as to conduct heat from ahigh temperature area of a body to a low temperature area thereof.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

An aspect of the present invention brings about the effect of achievingheat transfer in a clothing item whereby wearing comfort of the clothingitem is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(a) of FIG. 1 is a right side view of legwear in accordance withEmbodiment 1 of the present invention, and (b) of FIG. 1 is a plan viewof the legwear illustrated in (a) of FIG. 1 when viewed from a soleside.

(a) of FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of a composite yarn of the legwear, and(b) of FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the composite yarn.

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing an example of a specific structure of thecomposite yarn.

FIG. 4 is a right side view illustrating a variation of the legwear.

(a) of FIG. 5 is a right side view illustrating another variation of thelegwear, and (b) of FIG. 5 is a plan view of the legwear illustrated in(a) of FIG. 5 when viewed from a sole side.

(a) of FIG. 6 is a right side view illustrating still another variationof the legwear, and (b) of FIG. 6 is a plan view of the legwearillustrated in (a) of FIG. 6 when viewed from a sole side.

(a) of FIG. 7 is a right side view illustrating yet another variation ofthe legwear, and (b) of FIG. 7 is a plan view of the legwear illustratedin (a) of FIG. 7 when viewed from a sole side.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

The following will describe Embodiment 1 of the present invention withreference to FIGS. 1 through 3. Note that, in Embodiment 1, legwear tobe worn on a leg 50 (body) will be described as an example ofapplication of the present invention. However, the present invention isapplicable not only to legwear, but also to a clothing item to be worndirectly on a body. Note also that the following description assumesthat legwear 100 is formed by knitting. However, the legwear 100 can beformed not only by knitting but also by weaving.

The legwear 100 is capable of transferring heat from a high temperaturearea of a body to a low temperature area thereof by virtue of heatconductance of a metal wire. In other words, the legwear 100 producesthe effect of cooling a warm portion inside the legwear 100, whilewarming a cold portion inside the legwear 100. The legwear 100 is alsocapable of transferring heat from the body to the metal wire or from themetal wire to the body by virtue of heat conductance of the metal wire.

The metal wire is preferably a coated metal wire. For example, the useof an enameled metal wire achieves high washing resistance.

(Configuration of Legwear)

(a) of FIG. 1 is a right side view of legwear 100 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 of the present invention. (b) of FIG. 1 is a plan view ofthe legwear 100 illustrated in (a) of FIG. 1 when viewed from a soleside of the legwear 100. The legwear 100 (clothing item) includes a mainbody 1 and a heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 (see (a) ofFIG. 1 and (b) of FIG. 1).

A main body 1 forms a part of the legwear 100 other than the heatconducting and heat transferring region 2. The main body 1 is obtainedby, for example, knitting in a predetermined size and in a predeterminedshape, with use of any desired yarn selected as appropriate, including,for example, (a) blended yarns obtained by spinning one or more ofnatural or acrylic fibers such as cotton, wool, and acrylic and (b)yarns obtained by mixing or adhering ceramic with or to those blendedyarns.

The main body 1 includes a foot section 20 and a leg section 30. Thefoot section 20 serves to cover a foot area side, of a leg to beinserted into the legwear 100, extending from an ankle (ankle area) to atoe. The foot section 20 has a toe part 21 which serves to cover a toeof the leg to be inserted. The toe part 21 is knitted at one end thereofso as to be in the shape of a bag. The leg section 30 serves to cover alower leg area side, of the leg to be inserted into the legwear 100,above the ankle. The leg section 30 is knitted with an opening 31 at oneend thereof so as to be adjacent to the foot section 20 at another endthereof. For example, the legwear 100 can be a knee-high sock that has aleg section 30 which extends just below a knee or can be a short sockthat has a short leg section 30.

(Heat Conducting and Heat Transferring Region)

The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 is a strip-shapedregion which (i) is provided in the main body 1 and (ii) contains ametallic yarn 13. Further, the heat conducting and heat transferringregion 2 is provided so as to conduct heat from a high temperature area(part having a high temperature) of a body to a low temperature area(part having a low temperature) thereof.

Specifically, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 isknitted with a composite yarn 10 that includes the metallic yarn 13 as acore yarn 11. The composite yarn 10 will be detailed later. Further, theheat conducting and heat transferring region 2, as illustrated in (a) ofFIG. 1 and in (b) of FIG. 1, is formed in the shape of a ring at aposition close to the toe part 21 so as to extend from a sole side to aninstep side. In other words, the heat conducting and heat transferringregion 2 is arranged so as to extend at least from a sole side region ofa foot to an instep side region of the foot. The sole side region of thefoot is a region visible when the foot is viewed from the sole side. Theinstep side region of the foot is a region other than the sole sideregion of the foot. Note that the sole side region of the foot is aregion corresponding to a part of the legwear 100 where the temperatureof the foot becomes high, while the instep side region of the foot is aregion corresponding to a part of the legwear 100 where the temperatureof the foot becomes low. Note also that the “region visible when a footis viewed from a sole side” is, for example, a region illustrated in (b)of FIG. 1.

The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 includes the metallicyarn 13 and is thus higher in heat conductance and heat transferencethan the main body 1. Further, the metallic yarn 13 of the heatconducting and heat transferring region 2 is provided in the heatconducting and heat transferring region 2, without interruption, from aportion contacting a relatively high temperature part of a foot to apart contacting a relatively low temperature part of a foot. As such,heat of the foot is thermally transferred to the metallic yarn 13 in theportion, of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2,contacting the relatively high temperature part of the foot. Then, heatthermally transferred to the metallic yarn 13 is conducted from theportion contacting the relatively high temperature part of the foot tothe portion contacting the relatively low temperature part of the foot,and heat of the metallic yarn 13 in the portion contacting therelatively low temperature part of the foot is thermally transferred tothe foot. In other words, the heat conducting and heat transferringregion 2, thanks to its heat conductance and heat transference, cantransfer heat from a high temperature part of a foot to a lowtemperature part thereof. That is, the legwear 100 can transfer heatgenerated from a foot (body) to a low temperature part through the heatconducting and heat transferring region 2. Thus, the legwear 100transfers heat of the sole side having gotten hot, for example, after anexercise, such as running or soccer, to an instep (foot instep area)side of the foot, so that the temperature of the sole side of the footcan be decreased. When the foot leaves the ground at each step, moreweight tends to be placed on a toe base area (ball area; toe basegrounding area) than on the other areas of the sole side of the foot,and frictional heat is likely to generate between the toe base area anda bottom of a shoe. Thus, by arranging the heat conducting and heattransferring region over the toe base area, it is possible toefficiently release heat of the sole side.

Note that the width (thickness) of the strip of the heat conducting andheat transferring region 2 can be set to any value, and the heatconductance and heat transference of the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 increases with increase in width of the strip.

(Configuration of Composite Yarn)

(a) of FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the composite yarn 10 of the legwear100, and (b) of FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the compositeyarn 10. FIG. 3 is a photograph showing an example of a specificstructure of the composite yarn 10 illustrated in (a) of FIG. 2. Thecomposite yarn 10, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 2 and in (b) of FIG. 2,includes a core yarn 11 and a cover 12 (cover fiber).

The core yarn 11 is a metallic yarn bundle obtained by tying a largenumber of metallic yarns 13 together. The metallic yarns 13 can be madeof, for example, copper, aluminum, silver, or other metal. Each of themetallic yarns 13 is preferably a copper wire from the viewpoint of heatconductance and heat transference, corrosiveness, and other properties.The core yarn 11 can be composed of a single metallic yarn 13 or can becomposed of a plurality of metallic yarns 13. The thickness of each ofthe metallic yarns 13 (copper wires) is preferably not more than 120 μm.In a case where the core yarn 11 is composed of a plurality of metallicyarns, for example, four copper wires, as shown in FIG. 3, the thicknessof each of the metallic yarns is preferably in the order of 60 μm.

The core yarn 11 is covered with the cover 12. The cover 12 is made froma synthetic fiber, and the synthetic fiber is preferably a fiber havinga high heat conductivity, such as polyethylene. Further, the cover 12can be made from polyester from the viewpoint of cost.

The cover 12 is obtained by, for example, weft knitting (knitting) aknitting yarn which is composed of a plurality of filaments, as shown inFIG. 3, so that the core yarn 11 is covered (covering) with the cover12. In such a case, a knitting yarn that makes up a knitted fabric ispreferably not more than 40 denier. The use of a knitting yarn of notmore than 40 denier enables the cover 12 to quickly conduct heat of thehigh temperature area to the core yarn 11. This improves the efficiencyof transferring heat. In contrast, the use of a knitting yarn of morethan 40 denier provides a relatively large distance between the hightemperature area and the core yarn 11. This, in turn, provides a largespace (air layer) between the high temperature area and the core yarn11. Therefore, the use of the knitting yarn of more than 40 denierdecreases the efficiency of transferring heat. A method by which thecovering is done by the cover 12 is not limited to knitting. Tofacilitate woven knitting or weaving of the metallic yarn(s) 13, thecover 12 is provided for the purpose of making a surface frictioncoefficient lower than that of the metallic yarn(s) 13 alone and for thepurpose of preventing the metallic yarn(s) 13 from being plasticallydeformed. In addition, by covering the metallic yarn 13 with the cover12, it is possible to improve the texture of the heat conducting andheat transferring region 2.

Weft-knitting the synthetic fiber of the cover 12 provides a highcoverage of the cover 12 with respect to the core yarn 11. As a result,it is possible to prevent the core yarn 11 from sticking out of thecover 12 through a gap formed in the cover 12. Disadvantageously, theuse of an excessively thin knitting yarn provides a thin cover 12 with asmall thickness and thus may lead to a failure to prevent the core yarn11 from being plastically deformed. The use of such an excessively thinknitting yarn, which has a low strength, also may cause the core yarn 11to stick out of the cover 12. Therefore, it is preferable to use aknitting yarn of not less than 20 denier.

Further, in the case of the weft knitting, stitches are formed such thatthe cover 12 is wrapped around the core yarn 11 extending in alongitudinal direction. This allows the cover 12 to tighten the coreyarn 11 relatively strongly and thus allows the cover 12 to have a highdegree of contact (tightening force) with respect to the core yarn 11.By adjusting the intensity of a tension of the cover 12 in carrying outknitting with the composite yarn 10, it is possible to knit the cover 12so that the cover 12 is suitably in close contact with the core yarn 11.As a result, it is possible to improve heat conductance and heattransference of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2.

Further, in a case where the cover 12 is obtained by melting, it ispossible to increase permeation (degree of permeation) of the meltedcover 12 through the inside of a metallic yarn bundle and increase thedegree of contact between the metallic yarn bundle and the cover 12.

In contrast, in a case where the cover 12 is obtained by weft knittingwith use of a synthetic fiber, it is possible to prevent damage to thecore yarn 11. This is because the fastening force of the weft-knittedcover 12 is not stronger than a fastening force applied by winding asynthetic fiber directly on the core yarn 11.

[Variations]

The following will describe legwears 100A, 100B, 100C, and 100D, whichare variations of the legwear 100, with reference to FIG. 4, (a) and (b)of FIG. 5, (a) and (b) of FIG. 6, and (a) and (b) of FIG. 7. FIG. 4 is aright side view illustrating the legwear 100A which is a variation ofthe legwear 100. (a) of FIG. 5 is a right side view illustrating thelegwear 100B which is another variation of the legwear 100. (b) of FIG.5 is a plan view of the legwear 100B illustrated in (a) of FIG. 5 whenviewed from a sole side of the legwear 100B. (a) of FIG. 6 is a rightside view illustrating the legwear 100C which is still another variationof the legwear 100. (b) of FIG. 6 is a plan view of the legwear 100Cillustrated in (a) of FIG. 6 when viewed from a sole side of the legwear100C. (a) of FIG. 7 is a right side view illustrating the legwear 100Dwhich is yet another variation of the legwear 100. (b) of FIG. 7 is aplan view of the legwear 100D illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7 when viewedfrom a sole side of the legwear 100D.

The legwear 100A is configured in a similar manner to the legwear 100,except that the legwear 100A includes a heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 a instead of the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2. The legwear 100A is a knee-high sock that has aleg section 30 which extends just below a knee. The heat conducting andheat transferring region 2 a is formed in the shape of a strip and in aspiral manner so as to extend from a sole side region of a foot, at aposition close to a toe part 21 of a foot section 20, toward a positionclose to an opening 31 of the leg section 30. In other words, the heatconducting and heat transferring region 2 a is arranged so as to extendfrom a high temperature area of a leg to a low temperature area thereof.

In the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 a, a temperaturedifference between a relatively high temperature part and a relativelylow temperature part increases with increasing distance from therelatively high temperature part. Since the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 a is longer in length than the heat conducting andheat transferring region 2, the heat conducting and heat transferringregion 2 a has a larger temperature difference between a hightemperature part and a low temperature part, and thus is more likely toeffect heat transfer. As a result, in a case where the temperature of asole side of a foot becomes high due to, for example, an exercise, theheat conducting and heat transferring region 2 a allows heat of the soleside of the foot to be quickly transferred to a side of the opening 31.

Conversely, in a case where the temperature of a toe side of the footbecomes low in winter or in other situation, it is possible to transferheat of the opening 31 side warmed by sunlight, by body heat, or byother energy to a side of a toe part 21 which is likely to be cold sincethe toe part 21 corresponds to a distal area of a human body. In otherwords, the use of the legwear 100A enables cooling of a high temperatureportion of the legwear 100A and warming of a low temperature portion ofthe legwear 100A.

The legwear 100B is configured in a similar manner to the legwear 100,except that the legwear 100A includes a heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 b instead of the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2. The legwear 100B is a knee-high sock that has aleg section 30 which extends just below a knee. The heat conducting andheat transferring region 2 b, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 5 and in (b)of FIG. 5, includes a sole part 2 b 1 and side parts 2 b 2.

The sole part 2 b 1 is formed in the shape of a strip at a position(i.e., a toe base area) close to the toe part 21 so as to extend from aninner side (big toe side) of the instep to an outer side (little toeside) of the instep through the sole side region of the foot. The sideparts 2 b 2 are formed in two places along an inner side of a lower legarea and an outer side thereof. The side part 2 b 2 formed along theinner side of the lower leg area extends in the shape of a strip from aninner end of the sole part 2 b 1 to the opening 31. The side part 2 b 2formed along the outer side of the lower leg area extends in the shapeof a strip from an outer end of the sole part 2 b 1 to the opening 31.In other words, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b isarranged so as to extend from a high temperature area of a leg to a lowtemperature area thereof. The heat conducting and heat transferringregion 2 b is arranged so as to transfer heat particularly from the toebase area, where frictional heat generates when the foot leaves theground during, for example, walking, to an ankle area, which should beprevented from getting cold.

Since the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b is longer inlength than the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2, the heatconducting and heat transferring region 2 b is more likely to effectheat transfer. As a result, in a case where the temperature of a soleside of a foot becomes high due to, for example, an exercise, the heatconducting and heat transferring region 2 b allows heat of the sole sideof the foot to be quickly transferred to the opening 31 side.

The legwear 100C is configured in a similar manner to the legwear 100,except that the legwear 100C includes a heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 c instead of the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2. The legwear 100C is a short sock that has a legsection 30 which extends up to an ankle. The heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 c, as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 6 and in (b) ofFIG. 6, includes a sole part 2 c 1, side parts 2 c 2, and a rear part 2c 3.

The rear part 2 c 3 is formed on an Achilles' tendon side of the legwear100C at a position close to a malleolus and formed in the shape of astrip such that the rear part 2 c 3 extends from an inner side of a footto an outer side of the foot so as to be substantially parallel to theground during wearing of the legwear 100C. The side parts 2 c 2 areformed in two places along an inner side (big toe side) of the instepand an outer side (little toe side) of the instep. The side part 2 c 2formed along the inner side of the instep extends in the shape of astrip from an inner end of the rear part 2 c 3 to the toe part 21. Theside part 2 c 2 formed along the outer side of the instep extends in theshape of a strip from an outer end of the rear part 2 c 3 to the toepart 21.

The sole part 2 c 1 is formed in the shape of a strip at a positioncorresponding to a heel (heel part) or at a position close to the heelso as to extend from an inner side (big toe side) of the instep to anouter side (little toe side) of the instep through the sole side region.The inner end of the sole part 2 c 1 is connected to the side part 2 c 2formed along the inner side of the instep, while the outer end of thesole part 2 c 1 is connected to the side part 2 c 2 formed along theouter side of the instep. In other words, the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 c is arranged so as to extend from a hightemperature area of a leg to a low temperature area thereof.

Thus, even in a case where the temperature of a heel side (heelgrounding area) of a sole side of a foot becomes high, the heatconducting and heat transferring region 2 c allows heat of the sole sideof the foot to be quickly transferred to the instep side or to theopening 31 side.

The legwear 100D is configured in a similar manner to the legwear 100,except that the legwear 100D includes a heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 d instead of the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2. The legwear 100D is a short sock that has a legsection 30 which extends up to an ankle.

The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 d, as illustrated in(a) of FIG. 7 and in (b) of FIG. 7, extends, on a sole side, from aposition near a base of a third toe to a heel, and further extends alongan Achilles' tendon on an opening 31 side.

Thus, in a case where the temperature of a sole side of a foot becomeshigh, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 d allows heatof the sole side of the foot to be quickly transferred to the opening 31side. The heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 b is arrangedso as to transfer heat particularly from the toe base area, wherefrictional heat generates when the foot leaves the ground during, forexample, walking, to an ankle area, which should be prevented fromgetting cold, passing through a heel area, where frictional heatgenerates when the foot contacts with the ground.

Embodiment 2

The following will describe legwear 100E in accordance with Embodiment 2of the present invention with reference to FIG. 1. The legwear 100E isconfigured in a similar manner to the legwear 100, except that thelegwear 100E includes a heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 einstead of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2.

In the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e, a cover 12 of acomposite yarn 10 contains thermoplastic fibers. Further, the heatconducting and heat transferring region 2 e is formed by melting thecover 12. Melting the cover 12 eliminates an air layer between ametallic yarn 13 and the cover 12 and makes it possible to bring thewhole cover 12 and the metallic yarn 13 into close contact with eachother. This allows the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 eto have improved heat conductance and heat transference and speed upheat transfer.

The legwear 100E includes a main body 1 and the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 e, wherein the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 e and the main body 1 are seamlessly andintegrally formed in one plane. By heat-treating the composite yarn 10located in an area corresponding to the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 e, the legwear 100E is obtained in which the mainbody 1 and the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e areseamlessly and integrally formed. Thus, it is possible to form the heatconducting and heat transferring region 2 e in a desired place of thelegwear 100E without adding any external member. This makes it possibleto avoid any problem caused by the addition of the external member.

Further, the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e ispreferably such that the thermoplastic fibers are completely melted withno fibers left, and the melted thermoplastic fibers are fused with thecore yarn so as to be wrapped around a yarn at a boundary between themain body 1 and the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e.This provides more firm connection at a boundary between the main body 1and the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e.

Further, by melting and processing a whole surface (front surface andback surface) of the heat conducting and heat transferring region 2 e,it is possible to form a planar heat conducting and heat transferringregion 2 e. This allows the heat conducting and heat transferring region2 e to have a large area. As a result, it is possible to improve heatconductance and heat transference of the heat conducting and heattransferring region 2 e.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but can bealtered by a skilled person in the art within the scope of the claims.The present invention also encompasses, in its technical scope, anyembodiment derived by combining technical means disclosed in differingembodiments.

Aspects of the present invention can also be expressed as follows:

A clothing item in accordance with an aspect of the present inventionincludes a heat conducting and heat transferring region containing ametallic yarn, the heat conducting and heat transferring region beingprovided so as to conduct heat from a high temperature area of a body toa low temperature area thereof.

Here, the term “heat conducting and heat transferring region” is aregion which transfers heat from a body and conducts the transferredheat.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to efficientlytransfer heat generated in a high temperature area to a low temperaturearea by means of the heat conducting and heat transferring region whichcontains a metallic yarn having a high heat conductance and heattransference. As a result, it is possible to achieve temperatureequalization. This makes it possible to realize a clothing item withimproved wearing comfort.

The clothing item is preferably configured such that the heat conductingand heat transferring region is formed from a composite yarn thatincludes (i) the metallic yarn and (ii) a cover fiber with which themetallic yarn is covered.

According to the above configuration, the composite yarn with themetallic yarn covered with the cover fiber is used. Thus, the compositeyarn is lower in surface friction coefficient than a metallic yarnalone. This makes it easy to knit or weave the heat conducting and heattransferring region. Moreover, since the cover fiber can prevent plasticdeformation of the metal fiber, the shape of the clothing item is easilymaintained. In addition, since the metallic yarn does not touch the skindirectly, it is possible to improve the feel of the clothing item duringwearing of the clothing item.

The clothing item is preferably configured such that the composite yarnincludes a plurality of metallic yarns and the cover fiber, and theplurality of metallic yarns are covered with the cover fiber. Accordingto the above configuration, surface area of heat conduction and heattransfer increases, and heat conductance and heat transference isimproved.

The clothing item is preferably configured such that the cover fiber isa knitted fabric which is knitted in continuous stitches. According tothe above configuration, it is possible to improve ease of knitting ofthe composite yarn during knitting with use of a knitting machine, andit is possible to uniformly cover the metallic yarns.

The clothing item is preferably configured such that a knitting yarnused for the knitted fabric is not more than 40 denier. According to theabove configuration, it is possible to enhance heat conductance and heattransference of the heat conducting and heat transferring region.

The clothing item is preferably configured such that the heat conductingand heat transferring region is formed by melting the cover fiber.According to the above configuration, the heat conducting and heattransferring region is formed by melting the cover fiber with which themetallic yarn(s) is/are covered. This makes it possible to bring themetallic yarn(s) and the cover fiber into close contact with each otherand enhance heat conductance and heat transference of the heatconducting and heat transferring region.

The clothing item is preferably legwear. According to the aboveconfiguration, it is possible to realize legwear with improved wearingcomfort.

The clothing item is preferably configured such that the heat conductingand heat transferring region is arranged so as to extend at least from asole side region of a foot to an instep side region of the foot, whereinthe sole side region of the foot is a region visible when the foot isviewed from a sole side, and the instep side region of the foot is aregion other than the sole side region of the foot. Generally, in a casewhere, for example, an exercise is performed, the temperature of thesole side region of the foot becomes relatively higher than that of theinstep side region of the foot. According to the above configuration,the heat conducting and heat transferring region is arranged so as toextend at least from the sole side region of the foot to the instep sideregion of the foot. This makes it possible to efficiently transfer heatfrom the sole side region (high temperature area) of the foot to theinstep side region (low temperature area) of the foot.

The clothing item is preferably configured such that the heat conductingand heat transferring region arranged so as to correspond to the soleside region of the foot is arranged so as to cover at least one of (i)at least part of a heel grounding area of the foot and (ii) at leastpart of a toe base grounding area of the foot. According to the aboveconfiguration, it is possible to efficiently release frictional heatthat generates between (a) the heel grounding area or the toe basegrounding area and (b) a ground plane during a walk or an exercise.

The clothing item is preferably configured such that the heat conductingand heat transferring region arranged so as to correspond to the instepside region of the foot is arranged so as to extend from an instep areaof the foot to an ankle area of the foot. According to the aboveconfiguration, heat generated in the sole side region of the foot isconducted to the ankle area through the instep area. This makes itpossible to reduce a burden on the ankle area due to cold and enhancethe effect of a walk or of an exercise.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   2, 2 a, 2 b, 2 c, 2 d, 2 e: Heat conducting and heat        transferring region    -   10: Composite yarn    -   12: Cover (cover fiber)    -   13: Metallic yarn    -   50: Leg (body)    -   100, 100A, 100B, 100C, 100D, 100E: Legwear (clothing item)

1. A clothing item comprising: a heat conducting and heat transferringregion containing a metallic yarn, the heat conducting and heattransferring region being provided so as to conduct heat from a hightemperature area of a body to a low temperature area thereof.
 2. Theclothing item according to claim 1, wherein the heat conducting and heattransferring region is formed from a composite yarn that includes (i)the metallic yarn and (ii) a cover fiber with which the metallic yarn iscovered.
 3. The clothing item according to claim 2, wherein thecomposite yarn includes a plurality of metallic yarns and the coverfiber, and the plurality of metallic yarns are covered with the coverfiber.
 4. The clothing item according to claim 2, wherein the coverfiber is a knitted fabric which is knitted in continuous stitches. 5.The clothing item according to claim 4, wherein a knitting yarn used forthe knitted fabric is a synthetic fiber of not more than 40 denier. 6.The clothing item according to claim 2, wherein the heat conducting andheat transferring region is formed by melting the cover fiber.
 7. Theclothing item according to claim 1, wherein the clothing item islegwear.
 8. The clothing item according to claim 7, wherein the heatconducting and heat transferring region is arranged so as to extend atleast from a sole side region of a foot to an instep side region of thefoot, wherein the sole side region of the foot is a region visible whenthe foot is viewed from a sole side, and the instep side region of thefoot is a region other than the sole side region of the foot.
 9. Theclothing item according to claim 8, wherein the heat conducting and heattransferring region arranged so as to correspond to the sole side regionof the foot is arranged so as to cover at least one of (i) at least partof a heel grounding area of the foot and (ii) at least part of a toebase grounding area of the foot.
 10. The clothing item according toclaim 8, wherein the heat conducting and heat transferring regionarranged so as to correspond to the instep side region of the foot isarranged so as to extend from an instep area of the foot to an anklearea of the foot.